my Grannie always had her machine in a cabinet. Mine has never been in one. It just sits on a table. For the sewing I've done this has never been an issue. Now I want to try machine quilting but I'm thinking that the machine being up above the table top might hinder me...so here's the dumb question of the day.....Can any machine by put in a table?

I know some here have bought dining room tables at garage sales and cut a hole to fit their machine so they have a larger work area. If you want a sewing machne cabinet that would be probably brand specific. Check with your dealer. :-D

I don't care about brand specific....cheaper is better lol! If I could get a table off freecycle and make one that would be the way I go! My machine is not flat across the front though and that is why I am wondering.

It works best if it is a table that you can cut a hole in to set the machine down in. Then there needs to be somekind of additional surface for the machine to rest on. Since most machines these days are freearm they all need somekind of either table or slide on extension. I purchased a typical office folding table from Stapels. My husband the machinist cut the legs down for me so that it is I believe 27". When I slide my clear plexiglass extension table on it it is the perfect height for my arms to be perpendicular. I also have a tilt table under my machine and the add on thing is also tilted. I have chronic neck, back and muscle in general problems so being as ergonomic as possible is a necessity. The three items, the table, the tilt table which can be duplicated just by putting doorstops under the back of the machine and the plexiglass extension together probably cost a lot less than a custom sewing cabinet. The nice thing about the clear extension is that I can keep things under it, they are out of the way but always visible. I don't usually machine quilt anything bigger than twin size. Since my usual sewing table is shorter I simply put another similar table whose legs have not been cut down behind or next to my sewing set up. It's original height is then level with my extension table giving me a lot of area to support a bigger quilt. I do this sometimes just to sew the binding on a queen size or larger quilt.

Maybe someone else can help you with the hows, I'm not handy, I rely on my hubby or brother in law. :D

The type of hinges and their placement varies from machine to machine. I am not sure where you would find the right hardware.
The newer machines are made to use on a table and won't work in traditional styled cabinents.
But you can make a platform for them to sit on in a cabinent. You need to make sure your machine bed sits flush with the cabinent. Next, you need another piece of wood or plexiglass cut to fit around the sides of your machine, so that you have a nice flush surface. If you can get some one to router around the opening, the wood/plexiglass will sit nice and flush. The expense to doing this is minimal...I have seen old cabinents at the GoodWill for $5 :wink:

My DH cut the hole to the well bigger, then put a bottem in the cabinet for the machine to rest on. He did this to several of my old cabinets. Now I want the automatic lift. My Pfaff does not have a top loading bobbin.